Factory Equipment

Door opener to hydraulic expansion technology

Schunk - For a long time now, users in metalworking have been won over by the benefits of hydraulic expansion technology in toolholders: Tools are clamped via a hydraulic mechanism where, on inserting a screw, the internal pressure medium is compressed and the expansion sleeve elastically deformed. In this way, the tool shank is tightly enclosed. The high tension ensures absolutely secure holding of the tool and precise run-out accuracy of less than 0.003 mm.


Integrated Sensor Technology: The Next Step in Additive Manufacturing

Fraunhofer - The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will be presenting the latest research results in additive manufacturing technology at the Fraunhofer joint stand at formnext in Frankfurt am Main from November 7 to 10, 2023. Among other things, the Aachen engineers will be showing additively manufactured sensors that are printed directly onto components and that can provide real-time data for predictive maintenance.


Support-free 3D printing opens up new applications and reduces waste

Trumpf - High-tech company TRUMPF recently made improvements to its 3D printing software TruTops Print. Users can now print parts with extreme overhang angles as low as 15 degrees without requiring support structures. TRUMPF will be showcasing its new technology at EMO, the world’s leading trade fair for production technology, which will be taking place in Hannover, Germany.


Heat-resistant ceramic ink for data codes on metal components

Fraunhofer - Fraunhofer researchers have developed an extremely heat-resistant ceramic-based ink. For the first time, this enables metal components processed in the automotive industry at temperatures over 1,000 ºC to be marked with a code. The code can be scanned and is linked to a database in which all the manufacturing parameters for the component in question are stored.


Intuitive touchscreen with high electromagnetic noise immunity

SECO Northern Europe - Orbital welders, such as those supplied by Orbitalum Tools, use several thousand volts to ignite a TIG arc, which can cause electromagnetic phenomena that endanger the functional safety of the welding machines. This places high demands on intuitive touch panel PCs, which Orbitalum Tools now uses in its latest orbital welders. A panel PC with enhanced noise immunity prevents operational anomalies.


Materialise Empowers Control of the 3D Printing Process

Materialise - Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing software and service solutions, announced its Process Control software for metal 3D printing and introduced the Build Processor Software Development Kit (BP SDK). The new solutions enable additive manufacturing (AM) users to take full control of the 3D printing process by using automated quality control and customizing their 3D printer parameters.


Laser technology makes the automotive industry more environmentally friendly

Trumpf - TRUMPF has developed solutions that enable the automotive industry to avoid chemical cleaning processes. Laser technology thus ensures much more environmentally friendly production when cleaning car body parts. "The automotive industry wants to say goodbye to environmentally harmful chemical processes, which are used primarily for cleaning components. With our short pulse lasers, we can make a decisive contribution to sustainable production."


Quickparts Adopts Materialise CO-AM Software Platform

Materialise - Quickparts, a global leader in on-demand industrial production services, has partnered with Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing solutions, to leverage the CO-AM platform to manage their distributed manufacturing flows. The platform will support Quickparts’ traditional and additive manufacturing (AM) capacities and connect to existing production systems.


TRUMPF prints copper in large format for the first time with a green laser

Trumpf - Large copper components can now be processed on 3D printers from TRUMPF as easily as common 3D printing materials such as stainless steel. The high-tech company has equipped its largest 3D printer, the TruPrint 5000, with the green laser for the first time for this purpose.


When a laser collar tames the arc

Fraunhofer - An example of hybrid technology in its purest form has been developed and built by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT for the DVS research project “KoaxHybrid.” In Aachen, the institute engineers have developed a new optical system with glass substrates and an arc torch which unites metal shielding gas (MSG) welding and laser material deposition with an annular beam, thus creating a completely new process.


Sculpman promises a paradigm shift for extrusion-based 3D printing technologies

Sculpman - Belgian start-up company Sculpman decided it was time to fundamentally speed up and improve the fused filament fabrication (FFF) printing process. For the past two years, the company has steadily been developing a continuously variable nozzle technology, which allows to create strong, full-sized, and detailed objects in a matter of minutes instead of hours or even days.


Chloroplast-Fortified 3D-Printer Ink May Strengthen Products Like Custom Sneaker Soles

USC Viterbi - A tree grows strong from years of generating its own food. Now imagine if products could be strengthened with the same living materials that provide nutrients to strengthen trees. This is the work of USC Viterbi School of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Qiming Wang whose research lab is one of the first to infuse 3-D printer ink with living material. The material has potential for greater strength, to be flexible and self-heal.


The new Zmorph Fab, an all-in-one desktop 3D printer

ZMorph - Polish 3D printer manufacturer Zmorph unveils today the new Zmorph Fab, an all-in-one desktop 3D printer along with new features and software. Zmorph Fab features an interchangeable toolhead system that allows 3D printing, CNC milling, and laser engraving and cutting with the same device. The all-new Single Extruder Toolhead delivers faster prints with best quality.


General Motors Increases Agility and Speed by Opening All-New Additive Industrialization Center

General Motors - General Motors announced the opening of the 15,000-square-foot Additive Industrialization Center, a ground-up facility exclusively dedicated to productionizing 3D printing technology in the automotive industry. The AIC is the capstone of GM’s expertise and increased investment in 3D printing over the last several years. 3D printing will help transform GM operations – in product development, motorsports and manufacturing


Manufacturing Breakthrough Creates Path towards Eliminating Waste in 3D Printing

Materialise - 3D printing is often considered a sustainable manufacturing technology but a new Lifecycle Analysis indicates that for large series of identical products, 3D printing has a bigger environmental impact compared to a conventional production technology. With the announcement of Bluesint PA12, a material innovation that makes it possible to 3D print with up to 100% re-used powder, Materialise creates a path towards eliminating waste in 3D printing.


AM-Flow Strengthens Ability to Fully Automate the Additive Manufacturing Post-Printing Process with New Module

AM-Flow - AM-Flow will use Formnext Connect to outline how its technology can provide the missing link for those seeking to scale-up volume within AM production. The upcoming event will also see AM-Flow once again introduce new elements to its efficiency-driving solutions portfolio, as it unveils its AM-BAGGING module.


LVD Offers New Low-Cost Laser Cutting Machine Under YSD Brand

LVD - LVD now offers YSD LaserONE, a new cost-effective laser cutting machine designed to put the advantages of fiber laser technology within easy reach of sheet metal fabricators by eliminating the extras that increase machine cost and complexity. LaserONE is offered with a 2- or 4-kW laser power source in a 3000 x 1500mm table size and with optional Load-Assist automation.


Sapphire XC, Large Format 3D Metal Printer with up to 5X Productivity Improvement

VELO3D - VELO3D, an innovator in digital manufacturing, announced the expansion of its systems portfolio to include Sapphire XC, an “Extra Capacity” large-format printer that will increase production throughput by 5X and reduce cost-per-part by up to 75%, when compared to the existing Sapphire system.


New High-precision CT System

VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions - VisiConsult X-ray Systems & Solutions was able to present further new developments this summer. After the in-house development was completed, a standardized high-precision CT system was quickly completed and delivered in two different configurations in August. A customer in Israel received one variant with a granite manipulator, the other with a high-precision steel manipulator went to France.


From Biopaste to Bioplastic

University of Freiburg - A viscous biopaste that is easy to process, solidifies quickly and is suitable for producing even complex structures using the 3D printing process has been developed by a research team headed by Prof. Dr. Marie-Pierre Laborie from the Chair of Forest Biomaterials at the University of Freiburg. The wood-based biodegradable synthetic could potentially be used in lightweight construction, amongst other things.


Calendar

15/04 - 19/04: Wire/Tube, Düsseldorf (D)

22/04 - 26/04: Hannover Messe, Hannover (D)

14/05 - 16/05: Advanced Manufacturing, Antwerp Expo (B)

15/05 - 16/05: Advanced Engineering, Antwerp Expo (B)

15/05 - 16/05: Food Tech Event, Brabanthallen, 's-Hertogenbosch (Nl)

28/05: Industrie & Maintenance, Namur Expo (B)

05/06 - 06/06: Vision, Robotics & Motion, Brabanthallen, 's-Hertogenbosch

10/06 - 14/06: ACHEMA, Frankfurt am Main (D)

18/09 - 19/09: Kunststoffen, Brabanthallen 's-Hertogenbosch (Nl)

08/10 - 11/10: Motek, Stuttgart (D)

15/09/25 - 19/09/25: Schweissen & Schneiden, Messe Essen (D)

08/10/25 - 15/10/25: K, Düsseldorf (D)